Page 21 - CMA PROfiles Fall 2019

FEATURED SHOP: MILARC CABINETS

Milarc has a full paid hour for lunch, so no one has to “nickel and • Giving employees a stake in their success.
dime” their lunch break, Miller says. “We profit share, which gives employees a very direct
“My dad has been a huge proponent for adapting,” he adds. “He incentive,” Miller says. “The better we do as a company,
isn’t stuck in his ways. He wants to do what’s best for employees.” the more money we all make — not just the owners and
partners. It’s one of the ideals my dad has really pushed
PROfiles’ 2019 series on workforce development wraps up in this from the start – it’s his ‘big idea.’
issue with a look at employee retention, and Milarc’s employee-
centered culture is a compelling model. “When I first started, I thought if you owned the business,
you should make all the profits – that’s just a young person’s
In addition to being open to feedback about what makes a mentality. When you are running a company and seeing what
satisfying work ethic today, Milarc has taken other meaningful everyone is doing, then you understand that we wouldn’t
steps to empower employees. make the kind of money we make and build the products we
• Giving all employees a voicein company decisions. build without everyone’s involvement. Being able to share
“Our big focus lately has been employee involvement in the profits with everyone is obviously huge for retention.”
everything — big and little decisions,” Miller says. “We Miller says the company has seen multiple employees leave the
believe that the more involvement, the more excited company and come back six months or a year later wanting their
that everyone is, the more productive and streamlined jobs back. “They realized how good they have it here — that
everything gets.”
they’re treated well, and we have a good environment.”
• Providing cross-training and opportunities to grow.
“One of our recent goals is to get everyone cross-trained A LITTLE ADVICE
as much as possible,” Miller says. “Right now, we have Miller has a slightly different take on some advice we often hear
specialists in certain areas, but we’ve realized that the more – that you need to make sure you have the business skills to go
that people can do something new every day, the more along with your cabinetry/woodworking knowledge. Both are
excited they are to come to work. If you’re running a CNC important, he says, but Miller believes that if you have to pick
for 15 years, for instance, you’re not going to be nearly as one or the other to have under your belt when you start out, it
excited about it.” should be the cabinetry knowledge.

20 PROFILES FALL 2019